Air pressure regulating apparatus



DC. 8, 1936. TH 2,063,783

AIR PRESSURE REGULATING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.272 o'er: Z07 zangeZoz B Beccf/ Dec. 8, 1936.

L. B. BEATH AIR PRESSURE REGULATIIIG APPARATUS Filed March 12,

1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zia/60gb EB Dec. 8, 1936. L. BI'BEATH AIR PRESSUREREGULATING APPARATUS Filed Mafch 12,

1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 8, 1936. L] B, EATH 2,063,783

AIR PRESSURE REGULATING APPARATUS Filed March 12, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4ii 4$ 3 2!- 39 J1 I z 46 4 6 1,6 1 3 Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATESPATENT QFFICE AIR PRESSURE REGULATING APPARATUS Lancelot B. Beath,Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to W. D. Beath & Son, Limited,Toronto, Ontario, Canada My invention relates to improvements in airpressure'regulating apparatus adapted particularly for use in connectionwith apparatus for dispensing air at definite predetermined pressures toautomobile tires and the like.

My invention is directed primarily to that type of dispensing apparatuswherein manually adjustable means capable of being set for difierentpressures is subjected to the pressure in the service line whereby onthe pressure in the line exceeding the pressure which said adjustablemeans is set to withstand a valve in the service line is brought to aclosed position and upon the reduction of pressure in the service linebelow the pressure to which said means is set, due to the closing of thevalve, the said adjustable means acts to cause the said valve to move toits open position.

In connection with the above described type of apparatus, which is wellknown in the art, certain disadvantages have become apparent, one of themost important of which is the failure of the pressure indicating anddispensing elements to coordinate above certain limits of pressure,where an extremely high degree of pressure is required in the tire, withthe disparity increasing in proportion as the pressure rises in thetire, or other object, above said limits, thereby making it impossibleto know with any degree of accuracy during the latter stages of thefilling operation what pressure has been attained in the tire. I

I aim to provide by the present inventionair pressure regulatingapparatus which can be set to give any predetermined pressure in thetire, or other object, within the limits of the supply. and which willaccurately build up in the object being inflated the predeterminedpressure in exact accordance with the indication on the visible dial.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a mechanism having suchrapidity of action as to provide an almost continuous flow of air to thetire, whereby the inflation operation will be accomplished in theshortest possible time; to provide means for indicating to the user thecommencement, duration and cessation of the inflating operation; and toprovide a generally improved apparatus for the purposes to which it maybe applied. I

There are many details contributing to the accomplishment of the generalobjects just set forth and these together with the objects andadvantages will appear from the followingdescription and be particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention reference will be made to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of my improved air pressure regulatingapparatus, with certain of the parts thereof shown in vertical sectionand the valve shown in its open position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1. 10

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the device with the dialbroken away.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation partly in vertical section and the valveshown in its closed condition. 15

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the dispenser.

Figure 6 is a plan View with certain parts broken away.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the valvemechanism interposed be- 20 tween the diaphragm.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the variousfigures.

Referring to the drawings a suitable frame A provides a means forsupporting the various operating parts of my invention which embodies ahorizontally disposed valve casing l having a longitudinal boretherethrough and an intermediately located lateral outlet passage 2leading from said bore through the wall of the casing and to which isadaptedto be connected one end of a pipe 3, which latter at its otherend connects with a suitable service hose having at its distributing endthe customary chuck having therein a valve normally closed but adaptedon application to the valve stem of the tire to be moved to openposition whereby to permit of the passage of air to the tire. The inletend of the valve casing has inserted therein a suitable nipple 6 towhich is connected one end of an inlet pipe I which leads from asuitable supply tank in which the air supply is preferably maintained ata pressure substantially greater than the pressure tobe supplied throughthe service hose.

The bore of the valve casing l for the greater portion of the distancebetween the nipple 6 and the lateral outlet 2 is of suflicient diameterto provide for the operation of a Valve 8 of desired dimensions therein,but at a point adjacent to said outlet is reduced to provide a conicalvalve seat 9 positioned between said inlet and outlet, and said bore isfurther reduced at a point .55

I0 beyond said outlet whereby to provide an air chamber [0a, incommunication with the outlet passage 2 and also to provide a guideopening II in which the stem i2 of the valve is adapt-ed to bereciprocated and in which also operates a push rod l3 adapted at its oneend for engagement with the valve stem and at its other end projectsfrom the valve casing.

The valve 8 which is adapted for reciprocation within the large portionof the bore of the casing i is preferably octagonal in cross section, orof other shape dissimilar to that of said bore, so as to permit of thepassage of air past the valve, and is provided with a tapered portion i4corresponding to the seat 9 with which it is adapted to contact in-theclosed position of the valve.

A compression spring i5 positioned within the valve chamber exertspressure on the valve towards the seat 9 and tends to hold said valveclosed. a

The bore of the casingat the end from which the push rod [3 projects ispreferably enlarged and suitable packing l6 inserted around the stem anda suitable packing nut i'i secured into the end of the casing.

I8 is a casing mounted on the inner face of the vertical wall A of thesupporting frame A and providing towards one end thereof, an interior'chamber ii! in which is positioned a ver tically arranged diaphragm 26.The diaphragm 20 is positioned slightly to the outer side of the centreof the chamber l9 whereby that portion of the chamber between thediaphragm and the inner wall 2i adapted to receive air under pressurewill be of greater width than the portion between the diaphragm and theouter, or front wall 22.

A pipe fitting Ed is interposed in the pipe 3 through an opening in theouter wall of the.

casing and through the supporting wall A, whereby mechanical pressure inaccordance with the pressure of air required in the object to beinflated brought to bear against said pin will cause the diaphragm 2!!to be actuated rearwardly in the chamber 19.

The casing i8 has a rearwardly extending portion 29 terminating in avertical face 30 wherein are provided two concentric circular recesses31 and 32 respectively, the inner recess 32 being of lesser diameter butof greater depth than the recess 31, and also concentric with saidrecesses is a circular valve opening 33 extending completely through theremaining portion of the casing and communicating with the interior ofthe diaphragm chamber W.

A disc 34 second to the rear face of the diaphragm 20 carries arearwardly extending plunger, or valve 35 slidably projecting throughthe opening 33 in the inner wall 2! of the diaphragm chamber, the saidplunger, or valve, having an intermediate shoulder 36 positioned withinthe diaphragm chamber whereby tolimit the outward movement of the valveto the required valve throw and'also to resist inward mechanicalpressure on the diaphragm by means of which pressure said valve isdirected to its rearward limit. The valve 35 is of such length that whenin its rearmost position, that is with the shoulder 38 in engagementwith the inner wall 2! of the diaphragm casing, it will project into therecess 32 in the rear face of the casing,

such projecting portion of the valve for a part of its length being ofeven diameter with the body of the valve and thereafter being of reduceddiameter as shown at 3?. A coil spring 38 encircling the valve 35 andconfined between the disc 34 and the wall 25 of the diaphragm exertspressure on the diaphragm in a forward direction and tends to hold thevalve 35 open.

The plunger 35 is provided with a transverse air passage 39 positionedwithin the chamber It and a longitudinal air passage 36 registering withsaid transverse passage and leading outwardly through the end of saidplunger whereby to provide a clear passage for air from the service pipe3 for the purpose of closing the valve in the service line, in themanner to be described hereinafter, upon the pressure of air in thediaphragm chamber reaching such proportions as to overcome themechanical pressure set against the pin 28 carried on the front face ofthe diaphragm.

4! is a movable valve member positioned Within the inner recess 32 andadapted to be contacted by the end of the valve 35, and to be movedrearwardly thereby in the closing operation of'said valve, the saidmember 51 being circular in plan, and of slightly lesser dimensions thansaid recess both as to diameter and depth whereby to provide an annularair passage 32 therearound and an air passage 43 between the end adaptedfor engagement by said valve 35 and the base of the recess, which latterpassage communicates at its ends with the annular passage 12 and isadapted in one position of the valve 35 to be closed by said valve. Themember t! is provided, at its end adapted for contact by the valve 35,with a suitable recess into which the reduced end 36 of said valveisadapted' to extend in one position thereof and having therein a seat45 of rubber or other suitable material. A suitable ring (it threadinginto the interiorly threaded wall of the recess serves tohold the seat65 in position. The member 48 is provided on its face opposite to thatadapted for contact by the valve 35 with an integral threaded bolt 6extending laterally from the centre thereof through the recess 3!, andthe face of said member around the base of said bolt is recessed as at5?, providing an annular wall 48. The Wall ii; has a number of ports 49cut therethrough whereby to provide a plurality of air passages throughwhich the air from the annular passage 22 may pass to the recess 41.

It Will be obvious from the foregoing that when the valve 35 is free ofcontact with the seat 35 of the member 4i a clear passage for air isprovided around said member but in the closed position of said valve theair cannot pass to the rear side of the said member.

A disc 58 slidably fitting within the outer recess 3! in the wall of theextension 28 and being of slightly lesser depth than said. recesswhereby to permit of movement within said recess is securely fastened tothe member ii by means of the bolt 16 which passes through said disc andhas the nut 5i threading thereon. The

disc 50 is provided with a number of air pasof rubber or other suitablematerial and such,

facing is of sufficient width to include the annular air passage 42around the member 4| and also the exhaust ports 54 which lead throughthe wall of the extension for the purpose of discharging into theoutside atmosphere simultaneously with each opening operation of thevalve in the supply line the air utilized to close said valve during thelast proceeding operation, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

A casing 55 secured over the rear face '38 of the extension 29 providesa closure for the recesses 3| and 32 and also provides in its interior asecondary diaphragm chamber 56. A diaphragm 51 is mounted within thechamber 56 near the rear wall 58. I

The wall 59 of the casing 55 is provided with an inwardly taperingportion 60 of relatively greater thickness than the remainder of saidwall and this thickened portion is recessed centrally from its outerface to provide a housing 6| in which is located a compression spring 62which is adapted to exert pressure on the disc 50 in a direction towardsthe valve 35. As the recess 6| is of lesser diameter than the diameterof the recess in the face 30 of the member 29 an annular shoulder 63 isthus provided and this shoulder serves as a means to limit the rearwardmovement of the disc 58 and the member 4| to which it is secured.

The thickened inner portion 6|] of the wall 59 of the diaphragm casing55 is substantially conical in form and provides a nozzle-like structureterminating in proximity to the diaphragm 51, said structure beingprovided with radial openings 65 communicating at their one ends withthe interior of the recess 6| and discharging near the apex of saidnozzle whereby to concentrate the discharge of air against saiddiaphragm to move same in a rearward direction.

The diaphragm 51 is provided on its one face with a disc 66 having acentrally disposed lateral bearing member 61 slidable within an opening68 in the end of the nozzle 60. A disc 69 secured on the opposite, orrear face of the diaphragm 51 carries a projecting pin 10 which slidablyextends through the rear wall 1| of the casing.

It will now have been obvious that when the diaphragm 26 is in itsrearmost position, under the influence of mechanical pressure, duringthe building up of the pressure in the service line, but before suchpressure has exceeded the pre-set pressure of said mechanical means, thevalve 35 is seated against the member 4| and prevents air from reachingthe secondary diaphragm chamber 56 but immediately upon the forewardmovement of said diaphragm 2|] due to the pressure in the chamber l9overcoming the mechanical pressure (the method of applying which latterwill be described fully hereinafter) said valve will be drawn away fromits seat and will permit of the passage of air from the diaphragmchamber I9 to the diaphragm chamber 56 whereby to exert outward pressureon the diaphragm 51.

A lever 12 pivoted at its lower end in a suitable bracket 13 mounted onthe rear wall of the casing 55- at a point below thepin 16 from thediaphragm 51 extends upwardly in the path of said pin through a slot inthe frame A and terminates on substantially the same vertical plane asthe push rod l3, to the end of which it is connected by means of a shaftM extending laterally from said lever and a pivoted link connection 15and 16 between said shaft and the push rod.

A coil spring 11 extending parallel with the valve stem and anchored atits one end to a bracket 18'carried by the frame A and at its other endconnected to the upper end of the lever 12 exerts a pull on said leverin a like direction to that taken by the valve in moving to its openposition.

The various parts are so adjusted in relation to one another in theinstallation of the device that when the lever 12 is in its straightline position the push rod will be so positioned as to hold the valve 8and when removal movement is imparted to said lever by the pressure ofair from the service line against the diaphragm 51 the push rod will bemoved accordingly thereby allowing the spring IE to seat the valve. Onreduction of the pressure on the diaphragm 51 below the tension of thespring 11 said spring will instantaneously exert a pull on the lever andthereby actuate the push rod to move the valve to its open position andthe lever to its straight line position.

The coil spring 11 has a threaded connection with the supporting bracket18 whereby to regulate the tension on said spring.

An intermediately pivoted striker arm 19 has one of its ends operativelyconnected to the shaft 14 so that on each movement of the lever 12 tobring the valve 8 to its closed position the opposite end of said armwill be given a sharp upward movement into striking engagement with thelower end of a pin ill which is slidable vertically in a bracket 62. Abell tapper 83 is pivotally mounted above the pin 8| and normally reststhereon and is adapted on being raised by the sharp upward movement ofsaid pin to drop into engagement With the bell 84. A coil springinserted between the bracket 82 and the head of the pin 8| exerts anupward pressure on said pin.

86 is a lever pivoted at its lower end. in a bracket 81 carried by thevertical Wall A! of its frame A at a point below the pin 23 from thediaphragm 26 and extending upwardly beyond the valve casing l andadapted to co-act with said pin, so that when an inward pull is exertedon said lever under certain conditions said diaphragm will be movedinwardly to the position shown in Figure 1 and when the diaphragm ismoved outwardly again by the pressure of air within the diaphragmchamber the lever is actuated in an outward direction.

A coil spring 83 is connected at its one end to the top end of the lever85 and extends therefrom in a direction towards the diaphragm casingwhereby to exert a pull on said lever in a like direction, and at itsother end is connected to one end of a bracket 89 which is mounted on abolt and to which it is secured by means of a set screw 9| The means forsecuring the spring 86 to the bracket 89 preferably comprises a threadedeye bolt 89a screwing into said bracket and held by means of a suitablenut, whereby the initially set tension of said spring may be altered.The bolt 9% extends inwardly from the opposite side of the machine tothat on which the lever 86 islocated and is supported in spaced brackets92 and 92a carried by the frame A. The tension of the spring 88 isregulated by longitudinal movement of the bolt 90 and this longitudinalmovement is accomplished by means of an interiorly threaded sleeve 93threading over the outer end of the said bolt and held in engagementwith the outer side of the bracket ill by the tension of the spring,whereby upon rotation of the, sleeve the bolt will be advanced orwithdrawn in relation to the lever 86, according to the direction inwhich said sleeve is rotated. The sleeve is extended outwardly throughthe enclosing shell and is provided with a handle 942 by means of whichit is rotated.

The tension of the spring 88 is increased or decreased according to thedirection in which the bolt 90 is moved and controls the degree ofresistance offered by the lever 85 against the pressure of air withinthe diaphragm chamber l9 to close the main valve 8 and likewise controlsthe pressure extended on the diaphragm 2D to hold said valve open and asthe pressure of air to the tire is limited to the predetermined tensionof said spring it is obvious that to obtain any certain degree ofpressure within the tire it is simply necessary to set the tension ofsaid spring in accordance with the pressure required in the tire. v

In order that the degree of tension of the spring 88 may be known at alltimes so as topermit of setting the device to give the desired airpressure in the tire a dial 95 is provided having graduations thereonindicative of different degrees of air pressure and over this dialoperates an indicator 236 having its movement controlled by the movementof the bolt 98 so that to set the device it is simply necessary toimpart longitudinal movement to said bolt by turning the handle 9 3until the indicator points to the graduation on the dial indicative ofthe pressure required in the tire.

The means by which the indicator is moved over the face of the dial.through the movement of the bolt 9!! comprises the following elementscooperating in the manner hereinafter outlined:-A shaft 9! rotatablyjournaled in a suitable bearing bracket 98 mounted on an extension 99carried by the frame A extends through the dial and constitutes thesupport for the indicator and on the inner end of said shaft is fixedlymounted a gear Hit. A horizontally disposed rack Hll rests on the gearHill with its teeth me in mesh therewith whereby on the movement of saidrack in an endwise direction a rotary movement will be imparted to thegear to move the indicator over the face of the dial.

The rack H]! is supported at one end by a shaft I03 which at its one endextends through a slot lllla. arranged transversely of said rack and atits other is fixed to the bracket 89 mounted on the bolt 90. A collarBib mounted on the shaft I03 provides a stop for the rack and a suitablenut lfilc serves to lock the rack tightly against said collar in anydesired position within the limits of the stop mm. The shaft I83 issupported intermediate of its length by a bracket I05 carried by theframe A and which is provided with an elongated slot me through whichsaid shaft extends and which permits of lengthwise movement of saidrack.

The connection permitting of vertical adjustment between the rack Hllandthe shaft 163 permits of raising or lowering the one end of the rackto alter the angle of contact of the rack with the gear Hill whichcontrols the movement of the indicator so as to compensate for anyvariance in the elasticity of the spring 88 which may have beenoccasioned by climatic conditions, long usage, or for any other reason.

The rack ill! is held in engagement with the gear I00 by means of aroller l0! suitably supported in a bracket N18 for rotating engagementwith the top of said rack above said. gear. The roller is resilientlyheld to its down position by means of a spring I69 bearing downwardlythereagainst.

I will now describe the operation of my invention commencing from theinoperative condition to which the mechanism has been brought by thecompletion of the last preceding filling operation, the chuck in thedischarge end of the service line being closed and the various operatingelements being in the positions shown in Figure 4. r

The operating handle 94. is turned until the indicator 96 points to thegraduation on the dial indicative of the pressure required in the tire,this turning of the handle serving to move the bolt 99 longitudinallyand thus regulate the tension on the spring 83 in correspondence withthe pressure indicated by the indicator on the dial and as the spring 88is secured to one end of the lever 86 an inward pull will be exerted onsaid lever, which latter through its association with the pin 23 fromthe diaphragm 28 will result in the exertion of rearward pressure onsaid diaphragm equal to the pressure required in the tire.

The chuck is then placed on the tire valve with the result that thevalve in said chuck is opened andrthe air from the service hose allowedto flow into the tire. This results immediately in the reduction of' thepressure in the service line and in the diaphragm chamber IE to a pointbelow the mechanical pressure exercised by the spring-held lever 86,whereupon the diaphragm 20 is forced rearwardly by said lever 86 andcauses the valve 35 tomove rearwardly into contact with the seat 35 inthe member ll whereby to prevent the passage of air rearwardly from thatpoint. The inward movement of the diaphragm 26 causes the coil spring 38to be compressed to such an extent'that air from the diaphragm chamberis cannot enter the transverse opening 39 in the valve 35. The valve 35after contacting the seat 35 continues, however, to move rearwardly andto force the member 4| and the disc 5G to their rearmost positionswhereby to momentarily open the passage Hil between the disc 5!] and thebase of its recess and thus allow the air from the secondary diaphragmchamber 56 to flow back into the exhaust ports 54 and to discharge intothe atmosphere subsequent to the closing movement of the valve 8 in theservice line and prior to the succeeding opening movement thereofwhereby to relieve the rearward pressure on the lever 72. When thepressure within the secondary diaphragm chamber, 56, is reduced to thestate that it is overcome by the pull of the spring T! the main valve 3is moved by the action of said spring on the push rod I3 to its openposition and the lever 12 and diaphragm 51 returned to the positionsshown in Figure 1.

The air is now allowed to pass into the service line and when thepressure in the service line, and consequently in the diaphragm chamber19, has been built up to the extent that the pressure of air against therear face of the diaphragm, 75

20 exceeds the mechanical pressure of the spring-held lever 86 againstthe front of the diaphragm said diaphragm will be forced outwardly tothe position shown in Figure 4, thus drawing the valve 35 forwardly andpermitting the valve member 4| and the disc 50 through the action of thespring 62 to assume their forward positions, as shown in Figure 4,thereby closing the ports 42 and the exhaust ports 54, As the throw ofthe valve 35 is greater than the permitted movement of the members 4|and 58 said valve will continue to move forwardly and away from the seat45 after the members 4-! and have reached their forward limits and thusopen communication between the air passage 48 through the valve and thepassage 43, the spring 38 in the meantime, due to the forward movementof the diaphragm 28, having uncoiled sufficiently to permit the air inthe diaphragm chamber to pass through the transverse opening 39 'intothelongitudinal opening 48. The air then flows through the passages 43 intothe annular passage '42, through the ports 49 into the recess 51 in therear face of the member 4|, thence through the ports 49 in the disc 56and on through the recess Bi and the ports 65 into the diaphragm chamber56, causing rearward pressure on the diaphragm 51 whereby the upper endof the lever 12 is moved rearwardly and draws the push rod l3 rearwardlyagainst the pull of the spring 11, thereby relieving the pressure on thevalve stem and allowing the valve 8 to be seated by the action of thespring l5 as shown in Figure 4. Owing to the connection between the topend of the lever 12 and the crank position of the striker arm 12 eachmovement of said lever 12 to bring the valve 8 to its seat will result,through the medium of said arm and the pin 8|, in the raising of thebell tapper 83 and the consequent sounding of the bell.

If, in the closed position of the valve 8, the pressure of air in thetire and in the service line and in the diaphragm chamber I9 equalsthe-tension of the spring 88 the device will cease to operate further,but, if such air pressure is still too low to resist the pull of thespring the said spring will draw the lever 86 inwardly and again forcethe diaphragm 2|] rearwardly in the manner hereinbefore described toopen the valve 8. These cycles of operations will continue with the bellsounding on the completion of each closing movement of the valve 8,until such time as in the closed condition of said valve the pressure inthe tire and in the service line and in the diaphragm chamber l9 equalsthe tension to which the spring 88 is set and is therefore sufiicientlyhigh to resist the pull of .said spring so that said spring is preventedfrom operating the diaphragm 20 rearwardly to accomplish the opening ofthe valve 8.

The present invention provides mechanism for moving the valve 8 whichwill operate with such rapidity that the valve will not be permitted toremainin its closed position long enough to allow a high pressure to bebuilt up in the valve chamber for forceful delivery on the opening ofthe valve, but, will be moved away from its seat almost upon the instantof contact therewith, thereby making for an almost continuous flow ofair to the tire in place of distinct forceful charges of several poundseach, as in the case of various devices used heretobefore, and whichfrequently results in overinflation oi the tire due to the force withwhich the Charge is delivered compelling the whole charge to enter thetire before the operating mechanism has had time to close the valve.

As the flow through the pipe line is so nearly continuous it is readilyapparent that in the last stage of the inflation process the instant thepressure in the diaphragm chamber l9 exceeds the resistance offered bythe lever 86 the valve will be brought to its closed position and heldthere due to the now equalized pressure in the tire and in the diaphragmchamber resisting the return of the lever, thereby cutting oif thefurther admittance of air to the tire at the exact instant that thepressure therein has reached the desired maximum and assuring absoluteaccuracy.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been hereinshown and described it is of course to be understood that alterations indetails of construction and arrangements of parts as comes within thescope of the following claims for novelty may be made.

What I claim is:

1. In air pressure regulating apparatus, an air line having a valvecontrolled discharge end, a valve in said line, and means for openingand closing the valve during a period of predetermined pressuredevelopment at the valve controlled discharge end, comprising spacedpivoted levers, one of which levers is spring-actuated to open the valvein said line, means for subjecting said levers to pressure in the airline beyond the valve in the direction of flow, and valve mechanisminterposed in the pressure line between said levers and operable throughthe movement of one of said levers to alternately open and close the airpassage to the other of said levers.

2. In air pressure regulating apparatus, an air line having a valvecontrolled discharge end, a valve in said line, means for opening andclosing the valve during a period of predetermined pressure developmentat the valve controlled discharge end, comprising spaced pivoted levers,one of which levers is spring actuated to exert opening influence onsaid valve, means for subjecting said levers to pressure in the air linebeyond the valve in the direction of flow, valve mechanism interposed inthe air line between said levers, means for setting the resistance ofone of said levers to correspond to the pressure required at thedischarge end of the line whereupon increase of pressure in said lineabove the pressure said one lever has been set to withstand will resultin the actuation of said valve mechanism to admit air to actuate thespring-actuated lever in a direction to permit the valve in the air lineto close, means for visibly indicating the pressure which said one leverhas been set to withstand, and means for audibly indicating eachmovement of said valve to its closed position.

3. In air pressure regulating apparatus, an air line having a valvecontrolled discharge end, a valve in said line, a spring actuated leveroperating in one direction to hold said valve open, a lever movable inone direction by air pressure, manually adjustable means for compellingmovement of the second lever in'the opposite direction, means forsubjecting said levers to pressure in the air line beyond the valve inthe direction of air flow, valve mechanism interposed in said means,means adapted when the air pressure on the second lever is increasedabove the pressure of said manually adjustable means to actuate saidvalve mechanism to open the air passage to the first lever, whereby saidfirst lever is moved to permit the valve in the air line to close.

l. In air pressure regulating apparatus, an air line having a valvecontrolled discharge end, a valve in said air line, spring meansextending pressure to hold said valve open, said means being responsiveto the pressure of air in said line above that desired at the dischargeend in a direction to allow said valve to close, a lever subject to thepressure of air in the line between said valves, means whereby saidlever is rendered immovable by pressure in said line equal to thepressure desired at the discharge end of the line and is yieldable to ahigher pressure, valve mechanism responsive to the pressure of air insaid line coincident with the movement of said lever by the pressure ofair in said line above said desired pressure to admit air under pressurefrom said line to influence said spring means in a direction to allowthe valve to close to reduce the pressure in said line below thepressure required at the discharge end thereof, manually adjustablemeans adapted on the reduction of the pressure on said lever below thepressure required in said discharge end to actuate said lever in adirection to move said valve mecha nism to permit the passage of air tosaid spring means, whereby the latter is operated, and means forexhausting the air pressure applied to said spring means coincident withthe actuation of said lever by said manually adjustable means, wherebyto permit the valve to be moved to its open position.

5. In air pressure regulating apparatus, an air line having a valvecontrolled discharge end, a valve in said air line, a leverspring-actuated in one direction to hold said valve open and operable inthe other direction under the influence of air pressure in the linebeyond the valve in the direction of flow, a lever also subject to saidpressure of air in the line, means whereby the last mentioned lever isrendered immovable by pressure in said line equal to the pressuredesired at the discharge end of the line and is yieldable to a higherpressure, Valve means intermediate of said levers and operable by thepressure of air in said line coincident with the movement of the secondmentioned lever below the pressure of air in said line above saiddesired pressure to admit air from said line to actuate the firstmentioned lever in a direction to allow the valve to close to reduce thepressure in the line below the pressure required at the discharge end,adjustable tensioned means adapted on the reduction of the pressure onsaid second lever 'below the pressure required in said discharge end toactuate same in a direction to close said valve means against thepressure of air to the first mentioned lever, means for exhausting thepressure applied to said first lever coincident with the actuation ofthe second lever by said tensioned means whereby to permit the valve tobe moved to its open position, and means for setting the tension of saidmanually adjustable means to correspond to the pressure required at thedischarge end of said line.

6. In air pressure regulating apparatus, an air pipe having a valvecontrolled discharge end, a valve in said pipe, a lever, means forsubjecting said lever to the pressure of air in the pipe beyond thevalve in the direction of how, tensioned means for holding said lever inresistance to the pressure of air thereagainst, means for setting theresistance of said lever to correspond to the pressure required at thedischarge end of said pipe, said lever being yieldable to a higherpressure, means for visibly indicating the air pressure said lever hasbeen set to withstand, spring means operable in one direction to holdsaid valve open and being responsive to the pressure of air in said pipein the other direction to allow said valve to close, and valve meanscontrolling the flow of air to influence said spring means, said valvemeans being held to its closed position by said lever in resistance tothe pressure of air thereagainst in the open position of the valve insaid pipe and on said lever yielding to the pressure of air thereagainstbeing moved by said lever to its open position to permit of theactuation of said spring means by pressure of air in a direction toallow said valve to close.

7. In air pressure regulating apparatus, an air pipe having a valvecontrolled discharge end, a valve in said pipe, a lever, means forsubjecting said lever to the pressure of air in the pipe beyond thevalve in the direction of flow, tensioned means for holding said leverin resistance to the pressure of air thereagainst, means for setting theresistance of said lever to correspond to the pressure required at thedischarge end of said pipe, said lever being yieldable to a higherpressure, means for visibly indicating the air pressure said lever hasbeen set to withstand, spring means operable in one direction to holdsaid valve open and being responsive to the pressure of air in said pipein the other direction to allow said valve to close, valve meanscontrolling the fiow of air to influence said spring means, said valvemeans being held to its closed position by said lever in resistance tothe pressure of air thereagainst in the open position of the valve insaid pipe and on said lever yielding to the pressure of air thereagainstbeing moved by said lever to its open position to permit of theactuation of said spring means by pressure of air in a direction toallow said valve to close, means for exhausting the pressure on saidspring means subsequent to each closing movement of the valve, and meansaudibly indicating each movement of said valve to its closed position.

8. In air pressure regulating apparatus, an air line having a valvecontrolled discharge end, a valve in said line, and means for openingand closing the valve during a period of predetermined pressuredevelopment at the valve controlled discharge end of the line,comprising spaced levers pivoted at their corresponding ends, one ofsaid levers being movable in one direction towards the other throughspring action whereby to cause pressure to be applied to said valve in adirection away from its seat, and being movable in the other directionby air pressure to permit said valve to move to its closed position,tensioned means for compelling movement of the other of said leverstowards the first mentioned lever, means for setting the resistance ofsaid other lever to correspond to the pressure required at the dischargeend of the line, said levers being subjected to pressure in the air linebeyond the valve in the direction of flow for movement in oppositedirections successively, and valve means positioned intermediately ofsaid levers in the pressure line and operable through the movement ofthe second mentioned lever whereby to alternately open and close thepressure line to the first mentioned lever.

9. In air pressure regulating apparatus, an air line having a valvecontrolled discharge end,

a valve in said line, a spring actuated lever operating in one directionto hold said valve open, a lever actuated in one direction by airpressure, manually adjustable means for compelling movement of thesecond lever in the opposite direction, means for subjecting said leversto pressure in the air line beyond the valve in the direction of airfiow, comprising a pair of diaphragm chambers positioned between saidlevers and having a communicating passage therebetween, said passagehaving an intermediate enlargement providing a valve housing, adiaphragm mounted in each of said chambers, a pin carried by each ofsaid diaphragms and slidably extending from the corresponding ends ofsaid chambers and engaging the adjacent lever, a pipe connection fromsaid air line communicating with the interior of the diaphragm chamberadjacent to the second lever, a plunger valve carried by the diaphragmpositioned in the last mentioned chamber and slidably extending throughthe communicating passage between said diaphragm chambers into saidvalve housing, said plunger having an opening therethrough providing anair passage from the interior of the diaphragm chamber to said valvehousing, a coil spring encircling said plunger within its chamber andexerting pressure on the diaphragm in a direction towards thecorresponding lever, a valve element slidable within said valve housingand against which said plunger is adapted to seat under the tension ofsaid manually adjustable means when the pressure in said line is belowthe tension to which said adjustable means has been set whereby to closethe passage to the diaphragm adapted to act on the first lever, springmeans exerting pressure on said valve element towards said plunger, thethrow of said plunger being greater than that of said valve elementwhereby on the increase of the pressure in the line above the resistanceof said manually adjustable means said plunger will be drawn away fromsaid valve element to open the passage to the other diaphragm whereby toactuate the first lever in a direction to allow the valve in the airline to close, said plunger being adapted on each movement towards saidmovable element to actuate same to cause the exhaust of the pressure onthe second lever through the wall of the chamber.

10. In air pressure regulating apparatus, an air pipe having a valvecontrolled discharge end, a spring actuated valve in said pipe, andmeans to reciprocate said valve to alternately increase and decrease theair pressure in said pipe, comprising spaced pivoted levers, one ofwhich levers is spring actuated in one direction to exert an openinginfluence on said valve, and is subject to air pressure for actuation inthe other direction to permit said valve to close, a lever subject topressure in said line beyond the valve in the direction of air flow,valve mechanism interposed in the pressure line between said levers, atensioned spring connected at its one end to the free end of the secondlever, and a bolt connected to the other end of said spring andadjustable longitudinally to regulate the resistance of said secondlever against the pressure of air in accordance with the pressuredesired in said discharge end whereby on the reduction of pressure inthe line below said desired pressure said second lever is moved toactuate said valve mechanism to cut off the air pressure to said firstlever and to exhaust the air pressure applied to the first lever tocause the movement of said valve to its open position and whereby on theincrease of said air pressure on said second lever above the pressurewhich same has been set to withstand said second lever will be actuatedin the opposite direction to actuate said valve mechanism to admit airpressure to the first lever to actuate same in a direction to permitsaid valve to close.

11. In air pressure regulating apparatus, an air pipe having a valvecontrolled discharge end, a spring actuated valve in said pipe, andmeans to reciprocate said valve to alternately increase and decrease theair pressure in said pipe, comprising spaced pivoted levers, one ofwhich levers is spring actuated in one direction to exert an openinginfluence on said valve, and is subject to air pressure for actuation inthe other direction to permit said valve to close, a push rod havingendwise engagement with the valve and at its other end having a linkconnection with the last mentioned lever, a lever subject to pressure insaid line beyond the valve in the direction of air fiow, valve mechanisminterposed in the pressure line between said levers, a tensioned springconnected at its one end to the free end of the second lever, a boltconnected to the other end of said spring and adjustable longitudinallyto regulate the resistance of said lever against the pressure of air inaccordance with the pressure desired in said discharge end whereby onthe reduction of pressure in the line below said desired pressure saidsecond lever is moved to actuate said valve mechanism to cut off the airpressure to said first lever and to exhaust the air pressure applied tothe first lever to cause the movement of said valve to its open positionand whereby on the increase of said air pressure on said second leverabove the pressure which same has been set to withstand said secondlever will be actuated in the opposite direction to actuate said valvemechanism to admit air pressure to the first lever to actuate same in adirection to permit said valve to close a dial having graduationsindicative of difierent degrees of air pressure, an indicator movableover the face of said dial, and means operated by said bolt to move saidindicator in accordance with the tension applied to said tensionedspring by the movement of said bolt.

LANCELOT B. BEATH.

